Save Every Drop Challenge: GEAF Ambassador Tapas Kumar Mollick from Banlgadesh, shares insights from coastal communities of Satkhira district, Bangladesh in this Q&A segment

Could you describe a local practice or community-led action in Satkhira district, that helps communities adapt to coastal and saline conditions while protecting water resources and ecosystems? 

"If you visit Gabura Union in Satkhira, you will quickly understand that our lives begin and end with water. Before we think about farming, fishing, or going to school, we often think about one important question: Where will today’s safe water come from? 

Climate change has changed our relationship with water. Rivers that once carried freshwater have become increasingly saline. After cyclones, many ponds become contaminated, and some tube wells no longer provide safe drinking water. Living with these challenges has taught our communities an important lesson: if we want to protect our water, we must also protect the ecosystems that protect it. For generations, coastal communities in Gabura have lived in close relationship with mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves support our food and livelihoods by providing habitats for fish, crabs, shrimp, and other aquatic species that many families depend on for daily survival. At the same time, mangroves protect our communities from climate impacts by reducing riverbank erosion, slowing tidal currents, trapping sediment, and acting as a natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges. They also help maintain the balance of coastal ecosystems in areas affected by increasing salinity. 

That is why caring for mangroves has become an important part of our relationship with nature. Local coastal communities are involved from the very beginning of the process. During the fruiting season, local communities collect native mangrove seeds from nearby coastal areas and rivers, raise seedlings in community nurseries, and carefully nurture young plants until they are ready for restoration. Women play an important role in seed collection, nursery management, seedling care, and selling seedlings, creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods while contributing to ecosystem restoration. Community members also participate in restoration activities, protect sites from grazing animals, monitor growth over time, and ensure that restored areas continue to survive for future generations. 

Our relationship with water does not stop at the mangrove forest. During the rainy season, many families collect and store rainwater because they know it can become one of the most important sources of safe drinking water during the dry months when salinity increases and freshwater becomes difficult to access. These traditional practices help communities manage water shortages and reduce their dependence on unsafe water sources. Freshwater ponds are also carefully protected, and older community members continue sharing their knowledge of tides, rainfall, river behaviour, and changing seasons with younger generations. These practices did not come from a single solution. They have grown from generations of living beside the Sundarbans, observing the rhythms of rivers, tides, seasons, and nature. We have learned through experience that when rivers are healthy, mangroves are healthy. When mangroves are healthy, people are safer. For us, protecting water has always meant protecting nature, because the two can never be separated."

How does this practice help address local water challenges and strengthen community resilience, particularly in relation to climate impacts such as changing rainfall patterns, salinity, or water availability? 

"In Gabura, we do not need reports or statistics to tell us that the climate is changing. We see it every day. 

Many tube wells that once provided fresh drinking water are now affected by salinity, and some no longer provide safe water. After major cyclones, ponds often become contaminated, leaving families with very limited options for safe drinking water. During the dry season, many women walk long distances carrying water because safe sources are not always available nearby. Water challenges quickly become challenges for food, health, and livelihoods. When salt enters farmland, rice and vegetables become more difficult to grow. Families lose both food production and income, creating additional pressure on their daily lives. 

Another major challenge is riverbank erosion. Every year, rivers slowly take away farmland, trees, roads, and sometimes even people’s homes. Families who have lived beside the same rivers for generations are forced to adapt as the landscape around them changes. Healthy mangroves help reduce many of these risks. Their roots hold soil together, reduce riverbank erosion, slow tidal currents, trap sediment, and help protect coastal areas during storms. They also create breeding grounds for fish, crabs, shrimp, and other species that support local livelihoods. 

We know mangroves cannot stop every cyclone or every high tide. But we have learned that where mangroves survive, our land survives longer, our rivers remain healthier, and communities have a stronger chance to recover. For us, restoring mangroves is not simply about planting trees. It is about protecting water, protecting livelihoods, protecting food security, and protecting the future of our children."

What message would you like to share with people around the world about the importance of local knowledge, community action, and protecting water resources for future generations? 

"If you truly want to understand the global water challenge, spend a day in a coastal village like Gabura. 

Walk with the woman who leaves home early in the morning because she needs to collect safe drinking water. Sit beside the farmer whose rice field has become affected by salt. Listen to the fisherman who understands the river’s behaviour through generations of experience. Their stories show that climate change is not only about rising temperatures. It is about whether families have enough safe water, whether people can continue their livelihoods, whether children can stay in school, and whether communities can remain connected to the land they have called home for generations. At the same time, coastal communities are not only victims of climate change. They are also protectors of nature and holders of valuable knowledge. Every day, they protect freshwater ponds, collect and store rainwater, care for mangroves, and share their understanding of tides, seasons, and ecosystems with younger generations. 

We believe lasting solutions come when local knowledge is respected and combined with science and collaboration. Communities who live closest to nature often understand its changes first and can provide important lessons for the world.

Our message is simple: protect water by protecting nature, and support the communities who have cared for these ecosystems for generations. Because when we protect water, we protect life. And when communities are trusted and empowered to care for rivers, wetlands, mangroves, and freshwater sources, they are not only protecting their own future, they are contributing to a safer future for everyone."